Saturday, June 4, 2011

ASIA NATIONS RUGBY TOURNAMENT: Korea and Singapore in Final

PreviewSingapore defeated Malaysia 52-17 to reach today’s final, whilst Korea had to withstand a determined Philippines effort in the second half to eventually win 34-20.

Korea and Singapore last met in 2009 when Singapore made it briefly into the Asia Five Nations competition. Korea won easily and Singapore were relegated to Division 1. The same fate came Korea’s way at the end of the 2010 Asia Five Nations. Now they clash in the final of Division 1 to see who goes up for 2011.

Korea is the favoured team to win but they will need to win by the same 65 point margin of 2009 if their rise back into Asia Five Nations is to be taken seriously. For Singapore to be taken seriously they will need to win well today, and then take a much stronger team into the 2012 Asia Five Nations or they will be bundled out just as quickly as in 2009.

Perhaps it is time to look at the Asia Five Nations competition. I simply do not see any point in Japan fielding their number one side to win by 100 points or more. Perhaps Japan is best suited elsewhere in higher company, and leave the other Asia nations to contend with Japan ‘A’.